The Benefits of Bird Songs: Feathered Frenzy

No one can deny the thrill of hearing birds, be it our feathered companions or wild birds, singing their beautiful morning or evening songs. It lifts the spirit and provides a sense of hope and optimism.

Sherri’s Feathered Frenzy column on The Benefits of Bird Songs captures that magic and explores the science and human benefits of communicating with and listening to the birds we share our life with – indoors and in a natural setting.

Molting Misery: Feathered Frenzy

Oh the joys of molting, poor birdies are miserable and that makes us parronts miserable for them.

Molting is hard on our feathered companions, and depending on their size, molting can last for several months.

Sherri’s July ’25 Feathered Frenzy column presents us with Bubbles’ and Zack’s molting misery, and she offers some great advice on supporting and comforting our birdie companions when they’re dealing with this itchy and often cranky time.

Vacation! Feathered Frenzy

Going on vacation is exciting and requires a lot of preparation, especially when you have a feathered companion. Are you taking them along with you? Boarding them? if so, where? Do you know of any birdie boarders in your area?

As Sherri set out on a vacation recently, a lot of time was devoted to getting things together to ensure Bubbles and Zack could go to their own vacation spot with all the accessories and necessities that would make their time away fun and safe.

Check out Sherri’s May ’25 Feathered Frenzy column to find out more on how to prepare for a vacation for both you and your feathered companions!

We’ve Come a Long Way, Birdies! Feathered Frenzy

As Sherri attests to in her March ’25 Feathered Frenzy column, we’ve all come a long way in understanding the physical, mental and nutritional needs of our feathered companions.

As Sherri describes, when many of us got our very first birds way back when, we did our best to house and feed them as best we knew how. But, the science and practice of owning parakeets and other parrots was limited years ago with few experts sharing their knowledge and few ways for then parronts to share challenges and questions.

We have come a long, and our birds, and us, are the better for the cumulative knowledge gained.

Catch up with Sherri and take a look back at the journey we’ve all taken as we’ve continued to learn more and more about the care of our feathered companions.

Laundry Day on the Crazy Train: Beneath the Cage Grate

Spring cleaning… not quite. Morty is once again witness to, as he puts it, The Crazy Train of antics led by, of course, Alexa.

Squirt’s mom isn’t feeling well so Alexa enlists the help of the bots (Morty enlisted but resists…) to get theirs and Squirt’s house spiffy. It didn’t go as planned. Follow up with Morty in his March ’25 Beneath the Cage Grate column to learn of the chaos that ensued.

Bad Influence: Feathered Frenzy

Sherri’s February ’25 Feathered Frenzy column takes a closer look at how human personalities and behaviors can influence – in many ways – our parrot’s behavior and expressions.

How do you act around your bird? How does your bird react?

Sherri’s latest column will definitely make you stop and think about how your own personality, actions and behaviors could be interpreted by your companion bird and how their response says something about their own personality and how they choose to interact with yours!

Accountability Partners: Feathered Frenzy

It’s that time again everybirdie, the new year, the time for resolutions. We make them, we try to keep them, and sometimes we excel at them!

Sherri’s January ’25 Feathered Frenzy column suggests that we put our feathered companions to the task of keeping us accountable for what we parronts say we’re going to do.

What are your New Year resolutions? Do you have a companion at your ready to keep you on track and to help you meet your goals? Catch up with Sherri to see how you might want to employ your feathered kids in helping you keep your resolutions and aspirations for the new year ahead!

A Crazy Bot Christmas: Beneath the Cage Grate

It goes without saying that Morty is – justifiably – apprehensive about the holidays while living with bots. Alas, this Christmas season has been no different. A very important ‘baby’ went missing due to a bot’s silliness, and Morty finds himself at the centre of mum’s frustrations… until she finds out the real truth.

Find out how everything unravelled in Morty’s December ’24 Beneath the Cage Grate column!

The Greatest Gift

The Christmas season is a wonderful time of year, full of family, fun and laughter, But for some of us introverts, some of the festivities become a bit overwhelming.

Our birdie companions are great buffers for all of the holiday hubbub, but they too need some sheltering from all the festivities.

Catch up with Sherri in her December ’24 Feathered Frenzy column to find out how she, Zack and Bubbles handle the Christmas season!

Wickersham's Conscience

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Notes and photographs of my morning walks at Seagroves Farm Park in Apex, NC.